Method and blank for making slide fasteners



y 1950 A. E. CARLILE 2,508,782

METHOD AND ILANK FOR MAKING SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Aug. 17, 1945 INVENTOR. ALFRED E. CARL/LE.

A T ORNEYZ Patented May 23, 1950 METHOD AND BLANK FOR MAKING SLIDE FASTENERS Alfred E. Carlile, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 1'1, 1945, Serial No. 611,079

This invention relates to slide fasteners, and

particularly to an improved method of making interlocking elements therefor.

It is the primary object of this invention to 8 Claims. (Cl. 29-148) a predetermined cross section and at the same 2 time the strip is indented or fluted at points spaced apart substantially the thickness of a fastener element so as to define a series of connected embryo fastener elements having smooth provide an improved method of making the fas- I outer surfaces and rounded edges. tener elements so that a much smoother and It is a, further object of the invention to procheaper fastener is produced than has heretovide an improved method of making a preformed fore been done, such elements being of the constrip from which fastener element blanks are cut ventional type each having interlocking means wherein a wire is formed progressively in a swagsuch as a projection and recess at one end and 10 ing die to substantially a Y-shaped cross section a pair of spaced apart legs or laws at the other corresponding to the cross section of a finished end for clamping the element to the beaded edge fastener element and at the same time forming of a. tape. the outer sides of each fastener element while Heretofore, it has been" the general practice in strip form so as to provide a series of coneither to form the fastener elements individual- 18 nected embryo f r lements having finished ly and attach them to a tape by a hopper-type outer sides. attaching or chain machine, or to form the ele- It is still another object of the invention to ments in a continuous strip in one machine by provide an improved method of making fastener rolling or pressing and then attaching them to a -elements wherein a wire is progressively f rme tape by means of an attaching or chain machine. 20 to a predetermined cross section with the outer Both of these methods have certain disadvantages sides of the strip being indented at points spaced which are overcome by the present invention. apart substantially the thickness of a fastener 7 while a, machine of the same general type as element thereby defining a series of embryo fasdisclosed in the patent to Gideon Sundback, No. tener elements connected to one another by a 1,467,015, granted September 4, 1923, has been as latively i w of e a so as o in used successfully for making slide fastener stringting th l m s apart a suc indentations and ers, in such a machine it is necessary to provide to insure a more uniform element in height. a wire of a special cross section (substantially Various other objects and advanta es of this Y-shaped) The formed wire is fed into the mainvention will become more apparent d rin h chine and Y-shaped blanks are sliced succescourse of the following specification, and will be sively oi the end thereof from which the ele- P t u y Pointed out in t pp d C a msments are formed. The wire is formed into such In the accompanying drawings, there is shown cross section by a series of rolling operations f r h Purpose f l' i ri em iment which, of course, requires rolling equipment and Which my invention may assume in Practiceother supplemental equipment to preform and In these drawings: condition the wire before the blanks are cut Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, therefrom thereby adding materially to the cost llustrating schematically pert o a mac ine of of manufacturing fastener stringers. the Sundbaek yp showing how the swa ing die According to the present invention, the wire is f my invention may be incorporated therewith formed into a Y-shaped cross section progres- 40 for forming t e p? sively by means of a. swaging die thereby dispens- F 2 s a pe spec ve view of the strip as it is ing with the need of expensive rolling mills and formed by the sw g die showin a fastener th supplemental .preforming equipment. element blank severed from the formed end Accordingly, it is one of the objects of thi inthereof; 7 vention to provide an improved method of form- Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the ing preformed strip of substantially a Y-shaped swagin die showing h rip ing formed cross section by means of a die arrangement h r in; which can be easily and conveniently incorpor- Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of ated with existing attaching or chain machines Fig. 3; of the type as disclosed in the aforementioned Fi 5 is a vertical sectional view through the Sundback patent. machine showing how a fastener element blank It is another object of this invention to provide is cut from the end of the formed strip and an improved method of making a preformed strip formed into a complete fastener element by the from which fastener element blanks are cut punch and die; and wherein a strip of wire is progressively formed to I Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the completely formed fastener elements.

The machine shown in the Sundback patent includes a series of related mechanisms and since my invention is concerned with only a portion of such mechanisms, the machine will not be described in complete detail. For a full disclosure of the related mechanisms reference may be had to the aforementioned Sundback patent. In the machine shown in this patent the wire of a special cross section is fed upwardly from the underside thereof and blanks are sliced from the upper end of the wire as it is intermittently fed through a cutting die. There is provided means for placing the blanks in a series of dies spaced apart on the upper face of a rotating dial at the circumferential edge thereof, and this dial is intermittently rotated to carry the blanks in turn into line with a punch mechanism and with clamping Jaws where they are attached to a tape. The punch mechanism is operated in properly timed relation to form in conjunction with the forming die in which the blank is resting, the interlocking recess and projection of the fastener element. Mechanism is also provided for feeding the tape intermittently between the clamping Jaw portions of the fastener element and side tools are reciprocated at the proper time to clamp the jaw portion of the fastener elements around the edge of the tape.

In the portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing, there is shown a rotating dial 2 supported on the upper end of a vertical shaft 8 which is operated by mechanism (not shown). There is arranged on the top of the dial II, a series of forming dies 4 equally spaced around the circumferential edge thereof for receiving the fastener element blanks B.

To one side of the dial 2, there is arranged in suitable guides, a movable head 5 on which there is mounted a reciprocating lmife 6 having a thickness substantially equal to that of a fastener blank B. Directly below the knife there is carried by the head 5, a cutting or knife die I up through which the strip S is fed and with which the knife 6 cooperates to cut a fastener blank from the upper end of the strip in a manner hereinafter to be described. The dies 4 in the dial 2 are progressively brought into alignment with the knife 6 to receive the fastener blanks in turn as they are cut by the knife and-cutting die and moved into position in the die by the knife. Immediately after a blank is received in one of the dies, a punch 8 is actuated vertically to form the interlocking recess in the fastener element with the metal displaced from the blank into the forming die during the punching time forming the interlocking projection on the fastener element in a well-known manner.

Thecontour of the cutting end of the knife is substantially U-shaped and adapted to enter the space between the jaw or clamping portions of the fastener blank. The opening in the cutting die I is substantially Y-shaped in cross section so as to conform to the shape of the formed strip 8' from which the blanks B are out.

On the side of the machine, diametrically opposite that from the knife 6, there is provided a fabric beaded edge tape T to which the fastener elements are attached after they have been completely formed in the dies 4. This tape is moved upwardly intermittently by suitable mechanism (not shown) and is guided in its movement by suitable guides (not shown). The dies 4 each carrying a fastener element are progressively brought into alignment with the edge of the tape and a pair of oppositely disposed side tools ill bend the jaw portions together around the beaded edge of the tape so as to clamp securely the fastener elements thereto in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

According to the present invention, as shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a pair of friction feed rolls I2 which are rotatably mounted on an arm of a supporting member l4 which in turn is suitably mounted on the base or frame (not shown) of the machine. A round wire W is fed upwardly by these friction rolls and the peripheries thereof are preferably grooved so as to conform to the contour of the wire. One of these feed rolls i2 is driven intermittently by a ratchet l3 mounted on the same shaft upon which the roll is mounted and has teeth spaced around the periphery thereof which cooperate with a pawl I5 carried by the head 5. The ratchet wheel is driven by the pawl so as to rotate the rolls I2 sufliciently to feed the wire upwardly an amount equal to the desired thickness of a fastener blank B.

Above the rolls If, there is arranged a swaging die including a stationary or female die [6 carried by the supporting member l4 and an oppositely disposed, horizontally reciprocable swaging punch or male die I 1 carried by the head 5 which dies cooperate with each other in a manner to be described. The working portion of the stationary or female die I! is substantially semicylindrical and smooth-surfaced at its lower end as at 18 with said working portion gradually increasing in size and changing in shape toward the top thereof to substantially a Y-shaped contour at the extreme top as at IS. The side walls of the working portion of this die 16 are provided with inwardly extending transverse riblike portions 28 which are spaced apart substantially the thickness of a fastener blank. These rib-like portions are gradually more pronounced toward the upper end of the die. In other words, the height of these rib-like portions increases gradually from the bottomto the top of the die so that those rib-like portions at the top of the die protrude farther than such portions at the bottom thereof. The working surface of the punch or male portion of the die H is substantially semi-cylindrical or U-shaped with the radius of curvature of the working surface gradually increasing toward the top of the punch with the working surface being tapered from the top to the bottom of the punch so as to conform to the working surface of the die Hi.

There is carried by the die ll and protruding outwardly from the face thereof four (4) pin members 2| which extend into and through complementary holes 22 arranged in the head I for guiding the head in its horizontal movement so as to insure proper alignment and cooperation of the dies 16 and II. The head is reciprocated horizontally by any suitable means (not shown). At the lower end ofthe die I] there is mounted on the head 5, a combination guide and stripping member 23 through which the wire W passes from the feed rolls l2. Below this guide member 23, there is arranged preferably a reciprocating finger-like member 24 which is adapted in one portion to engage the wire so as to prevent accidental movement thereof when the wire is being worked upon by the dies I8 and II.

The swaging die functions in the following manner: The wire W is fed upwardly by the rolls I! by the action of the ratchet i3 and new! It, through the guide member 23 and between the dies l6 and If. The pawl is actuated by the head 5 to which it is attached upon reciprocable area-rec 8 movement ofthe head. smithewire hasbeen fed into the swaging die. the head which carries thedieorpunch l'l isoperatedsoasto bemoved inwardly toward the die It thereby and forging the round wire disposed therebetween. At the end of each swagingoperation. the wire W is moved ahead by the rolls l2 a distance approximately equal to the thickness of a fastener element blank B, thus bringing a fresh section of wire W into the swaging die and moving the previously swaged sections upwardly toward the cutting off punch 6. It will be seen that the wire shape (cross section) is gradually changed by the swaging die as it is fed stepwise therethrough until it is finally formed into substantially a Y-shaped cross section at the top of the die. as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Asthe wire is worked upon by the die, to change progressively the cross section thereof, the rib-like portions 20 simultaneously indent the outer sides of the wire at points spaced apart approximately the thickness of a fastener element blank B. Also, as the wire is being worked it will be seen that the punch Il acts thereon to form a gradually deepened. longitudinally extending channel on the opposite side of the wire so as to form in conjunction with the die l6, jaw or clamping portions for attaching the elements to the stringer tape. it will be seen then that the swaging die forms the wire progressively into a strip S having substantially a Y-shaped cross section with spaced flutes or indentations arranged transversely around the outer sides thereof so as to provide a connected series of embryo fastener element blanks, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understoo that it is the purpose of therib-like portions 20 of the die to indent the side walls of the strip at points where the blanks are to be cut therefrom thereby aiding materially the cutting of the blanks from the strip by providing a relatively thin section of metal at these flutes or indentations. These rib-like portions 2| also provide round corners and smooth finished surfaces on the outer sides of the blank so as to eliminate the need of any further smoothing op erations on the finished fastener elements after they once have been attached to the stringer tapes.

The upper end of the strip S passes through the cutting or knife die 1 arranged above the swaging die immediately after the swaging operation. As has been hereinbefore stated, the wire is fed upwardly after each swaging operation a distance equal the thickness of a fastener element blank. Accordingly, after the strip is feed so that a thickness of one blank protrudes above the cutting knife I, the knife 6 is reciprocated so as to cut the endmost fastener blank on the fastener strip from the strip at the indentation or transverse fiuting and at which point, it is connected to the next formed fastener blank of the strip, as shown in Fig. 5. Thisis done preferably simultaneously with the next successive swaging operation. The knife 6, after the blank B has been cut from the strip, continues in its movement so as to move the blank into one of the dies 4 of the dial 2. After the blank B has been deposited in the dial, the knife 6 is retracted to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the strip is fed upwardly a distance equal to the thickness of another fastener blank due to the retracted movement of the head 5 and the action of the pawl ll carried thereby. This completes one cycle of operation of the swaging die.

AftertheblankBhasbeenpofltionedinthe dial opposite that from the knife 6. The tape T 8 dialathepimehlisectuatedeoastoformthe rooms and projection on the fastener element blank as hereinbefore explained. The dial is thenrotatedsoastobringthe nextdieinposition opposite the knife 6 for receiving the next successive fastener element blank to be cut from theupperendofthestrips. Asthediallis rotated by the shaft 3, it will be seen that the fastener elements are intermittently moved to position opposite the tape T on the side of the is then moved between the legs of the fastener element and the side tools I. are actuated so as to clamp the fastener elements to the beaded edge of the tape T in a well-known manner.

It will be seen by the practice of my invention, that. the swaging die progressively forms a strip having a gradually deepened, longitudinally extending channel arranged in one side thereof with the remaining sides of the strip being formed to the outer contour of a Y-shape so as to provide a strip having substantially a Y-shaped cross section from which the fastener blanks are cut. It will also be seen that the sides of the strip are simultaneously transversely fluted or indented at spaced apart points so as to provide relatively thin walled sections at said points whereby a series of connected embryo fastener elements is provided having rounded edges and smooth finished leg and head portions.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a novel and improved method of preforming a strip for use in making slide fastener elements. By this method, it will be seen that the fastener elements are arranged one on top of the other transversely of the strip thereby providing a method in which no scrap is obtained. The indenting or fluting of the sides of the strip at points where the embryo elements are connected together aids materially in the cutting of the element blanks from each otherthereby increasing the life of the knife and cutting die. Also these flutes or indentations act to position the strip in the swaging die as the strip is being swaged thereby insuring that the resulting fastener elements are uniform and of equal thickness. Another advantage of my method is that the swaging die for practicing the same can be inexpensively and conveniently incorporated with existing equipment without the necessity of any material changes in the design or construction thereof.

While I have shown and described an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description, and that other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The method of making slide fastener elements which comprises forming a strip of material into a cross section conforming substantially to the contour of an individual fastener element, transversely fluting the side walls of the strip at points spaced apart substantially the thickness of an individual element, suceessively cutting blank members from the end of the strip at said fluting, and forming interlocking surfaces on each of said blanks.

2. The method of making slide fastener elements which comprises passing a strip of material through and between swaging dies so as to form progressively and gradually the strip into a predetermined cross section in conformance 7 with the outer contour of an individual fastener element, simultaneously fluting the sides of said strip transversely therearound, successively cutting blank members from the end of the strip at said iluting, and forming interlocking surfaces on said members.

3. The method of making slide fastener elements which comprises passing a strip of material through and between swaging dies so as to form progressively and gradually the strip into substantially a Y-shaped cross section, si-

multaneously fluting the outer side walls of said 7 said blanks.

4. The method of making slide fastener elements from a metal strip which comprises partially forming the strip while in a unitary form to correspond to a desired shape of the individual elements by passing the strip through and between swaging dies whereby the strip is progressively and gradually worked as it passes therebetween so as to provide finally a cross section conforming substantially to the contour of an individual fastener element, simultaneously indenting the sides transversely of said strip in the vicinity of said formed section so as to provide fluting spaced apart substantially a distance the thickness of an individual element, cutting blank members successively from the formedv end of the strip at said indentations, and forming an interlocking projection and recms in each of said blanks.

5.The method of making slide fastener ele- -ments which comprises forming a metal strip so as to provide a longitudinally extending. gradually deepened channel in one side thereof adjacent one end of the strip and to provide substantially a Y-shaped cross section at the extreme end thereof so that the end of the strip corresponds to the contour of an individual fastener element, indenting the outer sides of the formed portion of the strip transversely thereof at points spaced apart substantially equal to the thickness of an individual fastener element, cutting blank members successively from the formed end of the strip at said indentations so as to provide blanks each having a head portion and diverging leg portions, and forming an interlocking projection and recess in the head portion of each of said blanks.

6. The method of making slide fastener elements which comprises progressively and gradually swaging a round metal strip so as to provide adjacent one end thereof a longitudinally extending, gradually deepened. channel in one side of the strip and to provide substantially a Y-shaped cross section at the extreme end thereof so that the end of the strip corresponds substantially-to the contour of an individual fastener element, simultaneously forming indentations in the outer sidesof the formed portion of the strip transversely thereof at points spaced apart substantially equal to the thickness of an individual element, cutting the blank members from the formed end of the strip at said indentations so as to provide blanks each having a head portion and diverging leg portions, and forming an interlocking projection and recess in each of said blanks.

7. A strip for use in making slide fastener elements of the type having a head portion at one end and a jaw portion at the other end, the strip having a longitudinally extending channel in one side thereof and an outer contour corresponding to the outer surfaces of an individual fastener element so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped cross section the outer sides of the strip being indented transversely therearound at spaced points substantially equal to the thickness of an individual fastener element so as to provide a series of embryo elements arranged laterally of the strip one next to the other successively connected to one another at said indentations by a relatively thin web of material along the walls of the channel at which web the elements are adapted to be separated from one another.

8. A strip for use in making slide fastener elements of the type having a head portion at one end and. a jaw portion at the other end, the outer sides of the strip having transverse indentations arranged transversely therearound at points spaced apart substantially the thickness of an in- 1 dividual fastener element so that the outer sides conform to the outer portions of the outer surfaces of the head and jaw portions of the elements thereby providing a series of embryo elements arranged laterally of the strip one next to the other successively connected to one another at said indentations at which points the elements are'adapted to be separated from one another.

ALFRED E. CARLILE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNI'I'ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 232,561 Smith Sept. 21, 1880 1,045,483 Ward Nov. 26, 1912 1,467,015 Sundback Sept. 4, 1923 1,639,068 Williams Aug. 16, 1927 1,679,626 Perrault Aug. 7, 1928 1,992,254 Sundback Feb. 26, 1935 2,071,603 Winterhalter Feb. 23, 1937 2,169,176 Poux Aug. 8, 1939 2,221,740 Ulrich Nov. 12, 1940- 2,370,380 Uh'ich Feb. 27, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 538,755 Germany Nov. 21, 1931 

